Planning Thoughts:
What I already know:
The famous Rosie the Riveter poster shows a woman in a blue workshirt with a red bandana. She's got her arm up showing her muscle off with the caption, "We Can Do It." This specific poster shows women as strong, independent, and hardworking. It puts them in a very masculine role.
What I want to know:
Was this always the case? How were women portrayed before the Rosie poster? Who created the Rosie poster and who/what inspired the poster? In what other ways were women portrayed in propaganda posters?
To answer my question, I am going to examine several propaganda posters that portray women in the workforce. This includes all kinds of different jobs - nurses, riveters, laborers, homemakers, etc.) I will also look into the information behind some of the posters. Who inspired the Rosie poster? Who created it?
I. Intro (introduce topic/question) -Americans are familiar with the image of Rosie the Riveter. A strong, independent woman who can do a man's job to help her country. This poster was not the only poster to portray women in the workforce during WWII. How else were woman portrayed?
II. Historical context -WWII marked a difficult time period for the United States. We were coming out of the Great Depression. Able-bodied men were encouraged to enlist and fight. This led to a shortage of men in the workforce. Government wanted to encourage women to join the workforce.
III. Analysis – direct response to question (inferences supported with claims from documents) -Examples of different posters and what they portray -How are women pictured? -What do they have in common? -What is different? -How does it change throughout the years?
What I already know:
The famous Rosie the Riveter poster shows a woman in a blue workshirt with a red bandana. She's got her arm up showing her muscle off with the caption, "We Can Do It." This specific poster shows women as strong, independent, and hardworking. It puts them in a very masculine role.
What I want to know:
Was this always the case? How were women portrayed before the Rosie poster? Who created the Rosie poster and who/what inspired the poster? In what other ways were women portrayed in propaganda posters?
To answer my question, I am going to examine several propaganda posters that portray women in the workforce. This includes all kinds of different jobs - nurses, riveters, laborers, homemakers, etc.) I will also look into the information behind some of the posters. Who inspired the Rosie poster? Who created it?
Resources:
Posters (primary sources):
http://research.archives.gov/description/535418
http://research.archives.gov/description/535413
http://research.archives.gov/description/535414
http://research.archives.gov/description/535416
Other (secondary sources):
http://www.history.com/topics/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii
This website provides background information about world war 2 and the US involvement.
http://www.history.com/topics/rosie-the-riveter
This website provides more information about the Rosie the Riveter campaign and women involvement in the workforce.
Inquiry Project Outline:
I. Intro (introduce topic/question)
-Americans are familiar with the image of Rosie the Riveter. A strong, independent woman who can do a man's job to help her country. This poster was not the only poster to portray women in the workforce during WWII. How else were woman portrayed?
II. Historical context
-WWII marked a difficult time period for the United States. We were coming out of the Great Depression. Able-bodied men were encouraged to enlist and fight. This led to a shortage of men in the workforce. Government wanted to encourage women to join the workforce.
III. Analysis – direct response to question (inferences supported with claims from documents)
-Examples of different posters and what they portray
-How are women pictured?
-What do they have in common?
-What is different?
-How does it change throughout the years?
V. Conclusion
VI. References
Rough Draft and Poster Analysis Notes:
Inquiry Project Final Paper: